Supply chains are constantly changing as new rules, technologies, resources and market trends transform operations. Here's a skim of the week's indexes, technology announcements, distribution centers and M&As from around the web.
In Case You Missed It
- Hanjin Shipping caused a global frenzy after filing for bankruptcy.
- GameStop spurned warehouses, opting for ship-from-store services.
- Ports are suffering from slowed peak seasons and rising inventories.
Market Snapshot
U.S. Department of Commerce data shows GDP in Q2 grew by 1.1%, a 0.1-point decrease from predictions. Increased imports, decreased government spending led to the difference. Exports were up 1.2%.
An American Shipper analysis shows orders of transportation equipment increased 10.5% in July, while orders of durable goods grew 4.4% in the same period.
But, it may be too early to celebrate — the Manufacturing ISM Report on Business shows the industry contracted in August as new orders fell 7.8% from the previous month.
The Cass Truck Linehaul Index fell 1.6% year-over-year in July, marking the fifth straight month of lower year-over-year rates. Meanwhile, container carriers could lose up to $10 billion in 2016, says SeaIntelligence Consulting CEO Lars Jensen.
Finally, the National Highway Traffic Safety Association announced truck fatalities jumped 4.1% in 2015, compared to the previous year.
Technically Speaking
Robots will deliver food and medicine for Swiss Post this month, as the mail service tests whether humans and the technology can co-exist in three cities. CNN reports the robots will also be tested in Washington, D.C. this fall.
SAP Ariba will launch in China later this year, connecting the country's increasingly digital businesses to two million buyers and suppliers in 190 countries.
A new shipper-carrier matching system made its debut at the Great American Trucking Show: Except unlike traditional loadboards, HaulHound's app and web platform asks shippers and brokers to find the truck of best-fit.
DHL Supply Chain plans to expand its augmented reality glasses pilot programs to various industries in the U.K., Europe and the U.S. The smart glasses help shop floor pickers determine where to place goods in a cart.
HighJump released its latest WMS application, version 4.2 of AccellosOne Enterprise 3PL, adding costing, charging and billing operations for both space used and operations performed for the user's clients.
The U.S. Patent and Trade Office granted MacroPoint a patent on third-party tracking using mobile devices like ELD devices or cell phones, providing the company a big win against its competitors, mainly FourKites.
Breaking Ground
Contractors broke ground on UPS' $300 million expansion of its Louisville, KY Centennial Hub, tripling the facility's size to 838,000 feet, doubling its sorting capacity to 85,000 packages per hour, and creating 300 jobs.
Next door, in TN, FedEx announced plans to build a 1-million-square-foot distribution center in Murfreesboro after a $189.5 million investment.
A new metals trans-load facility began construction today in Joliet, IL. Odyssey Logistics & Technology's 121,680 square-foot facility is located nearby I-55, I-80 and BNSF intermodal rail yards for easy shipment.
Meanwhile, an imported beer distributor is planning to break ground on a new 450,000-square-foot warehouse project in Hurchins, TX, near Dallas. Constellation Brands imports the Corona, Modelo and Pacifico beer brands in addition to a variety of wines.
Mergers & Analysis
The Food Safety Modernization Act is pushing cold-chain firms, such as Emerson Climate Technologies, to improve their temperature-controlled offerings. The St. Louis, MO firm bought Locus Traxx and PakSense to gain access to their real-time temperature logging and cost-benefit solutions.
Dayton, OH's CSafe Global, a cold chain solutions provider, snagged French pharmaceutical and healthcare packaging company Kalibox for its passive packaging, pallet shippers and gel bricks designs.
Online freight marketplace startup Freightos acquired WebCargoNet, creating the world's largest freight management system.
ShipXpress will join GE Transportation to help digitize the company's logistics solutions for short-line railroads.
C.H. Robinson continues its worldwide expansion: the top-five global 3PL bought APC Logistics, an Australian freight forwarder and customs broker. The company now serves 37 countries, but four years ago it was simply a U.S. truck broker.
